Extra Magic Hours at Animal Kingdom lower Pandora wait times

For the first time, Disney offered Extra Magic Hours to what was once the least busy of its four parks through mid-July. But due to the success of Pandora – The World of Avatar‘s opening on Memorial Day weekend, Disney has extended the offer through mid-August.

Animal Kingdom will have the earliest and latest hours of all four theme parks this summer. It will open at 7 a.m. for those staying at select Disney resorts that qualify for Extra Magic Hours and those guests can stay after closing from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Animal Kingdom has also added extra Rivers of Light showings during the extended hours. The boat show debuted in February.

Pandora was added to Animal Kingdom to beef up attendance and extend the park hours. During Pandora’s opening weekend, visitors endured waits of up to four hours for its two most popular attractions.

About The Author

The youngest of seven children, Terry O. Roen followed two older brothers into journalism. Her career started as a reporter for the Orlando Sentinel, where she wrote stories on city and county government, schools, courts and religion. She has also reported for the Associated Press, where she covered the Casey Anthony and Trayvon Martin trials along with the Pulse massacre. Married to her husband, Hal, they have two children and live in Winter Park. A lifelong tourist in her own state, she writes about Central Florida’s growing tourism industry for Florida Politics and Orlando Rising.